Pine-Hardwood Mixtures—A New Concept in Regeneration

Abstract Spring felling of standing residuals left after a commercial clearcut, controlled burning the following summer, and hand planting of approximately 450 pine seedlings per acre can produce productive pine-hardwood mixtures on many medium sites in the Southeast. Stand establishment costs are approximately one-half that for conventional pine plantations using intensive site-preparation techniques. These stands have the potential to enhance wildlife, increase forest diversity, improve visual attractiveness, and provide good overall productivity. Early growth of individual pine trees on three study sites was approximately equal to that of pines growing in pure pine plantations of the same age. After 4 growing seasons, 304 to 414 free-to-grow shortleaf pines (Pinus echinata Mill.) per acre in the study stands averaged 7.9 to 9.3 feet in total height. Oaks (Quercus L. spp.), the predominant hardwood component of the stands, averaged 4.8 to 6.4 feet in total height after 4 years. If correctly applied, this new regeneration technique has the potential to bring many thousands of acres under management that presently are left unattended following harvest. South. J. Appl. For. 11(4):192-197.